15/01/2014

The London Assembly has today passed a motion supporting Cruelty Free International’s campaign to end the use of animals in household product testing and calling on the Authority to begin the process of moving towards using Leaping Bunny certified cleaning products.

The motion, which was introduced by Green Assembly Member Jenny Jones and seconded by Labour member Joanne McCartney states: “This Assembly welcomes the commitment by the Government to ban the use of animals to test household products, and supports Cruelty Free International in its campaigning to end such testing. This Assembly calls on the Greater London Authority, the Metropolitan Police Service, the London Fire Brigade and Transport for London to only purchase cleaning products, where suitable products are available and subject to best value considerations, which have been certified by Cruelty Free International as not tested on animals under the Humane Standards for use in all buildings for which they are directly responsible for cleaning. Where cleaning is conducted on their behalf by an outside contractor, this condition should be added to the next tender specification when it is published.”

Assembly Member Jenny Jones told Cruelty Free International: “I am delighted that the London Assembly has passed this motion, which marks an important step towards cleaning up cruelty in London and will be welcomed by Londoners. Using animals to test these products is not only unnecessary but it is outdated and cruel, and Cruelty Free International is doing vital work in campaigning to end this practice. I hope that other public bodies will join us in making this move, and that the Government will honour its pledge to ban the use of animals to test household products and their ingredients.”

Labour Assembly Member Joanne McCartney said:“The passing of this motion marks the start of the Greater London Authority moving towards using products which have not been tested on animals. Londoners do not expect animals to suffer so that they can enjoy clean buses or police stations. I hope that the Government will take notice of Cruelty Free International’s campaign as well as what we have done today and finally fulfil its promise to ban the testing of household products and their ingredients on animals.”

During the debate this afternoon Jenny Jones said that the motion would “bring London policy into line with the views of many of our constituents” and Conservative Steve O’Connell said he hoped the motion would spread beyond the Assembly, adding that there is a “need to address the unnecessary testing of household products on animals”.

The Greater London Authority joins local councils throughout Britain who have voted to move towards using cleaning products certified free from animal testing by Cruelty Free International. These councils include Wirral, Cardiff, Sheffield, Stocksbridge, Cerdigion, Edinburgh and Enfield, which became the first council to make the switch to certified products in 2012. We want to see as many councils as possible pass similar motions, please help us make councils across Britain cruelty free.

Cruelty Free International has spearheaded the campaign to end the use of animals in household product testing for many years, and has been leading efforts to hold the Government to account for its pledge to ban the practice, made in the 2010 Coalition Agreement. The Clean Up Cruelty campaign has already gained widespread support around the UK from politicians, councils, retailers and the public.

BUAV and Cruelty Free International Chief Executive, Michelle Thew said:“Cruelty Free International congratulates the London Assembly for taking this important stance. We urge other local authorities to adopt a similar position and support our campaign to end the cruelty and suffering inflicted on animals to test cleaning products and ingredients."